Imagine attending a massive sporting event where technology invisibly works to keep you safe. That’s the promise of Silicon Valley’s latest innovation in crowd management.

Ouster, a San Francisco-based tech company, is pioneering artificial intelligence solutions that could revolutionize how large venues handle crowd safety. Using advanced 3D lidar sensors with laser vision technology, the company aims to prevent dangerous crowd situations before they escalate.

The technology is set to be deployed at two major upcoming sporting events: the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium and the FIFA World Cup. These events historically draw hundreds of thousands of fans, making crowd control a critical challenge.

Lidar technology, similar to what powers self-driving vehicles, can do more than just count people. It can track crowd density in real-time, alerting security when a specific area becomes too crowded. The system can distinguish between pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicles, providing unprecedented situational awareness.

According to Ouster’s CEO Angus Pacala, the goal is to give “machines eyesight” in complex real-world environments. This means preventing potentially dangerous crowd build-ups and creating safer event experiences.

Law enforcement analysts see significant potential in this technology. With staffing challenges, having an “incredibly accurate set of eyes and ears” could be transformative for event security.

While the technology is still in its early stages, it represents an exciting intersection of artificial intelligence and public safety. As large events continue to draw massive crowds, innovative solutions like Ouster’s could become standard practice in venue management.

The future of crowd safety isn’t about more security personnel, but smarter, more responsive technological solutions that can anticipate and prevent potential risks before they occur.